“You look at the players they’ve got. I spoke to a couple of Newcastle fans the other week and they said they felt their team would finish mid-table. I told them Newcastle will do well to achieve that. I think with the players they’ve got they will be doing well to stay out of the relegation fight.

“And hopefully, hopefully if Rafa stays then they can go on from there. But if Rafa goes the club could fall like a pack of cards again.“The fans believe in him.

“I think he has done a very good job. They were relegated but he got them back up. They finished winning the Championship.

“So that was the time for the board to bring in better players. Rafa knew what he needed.

“Instead he now has to work with the players he had last season with a few additions.

“There are 52,000 fans there every home game – but they don’t play the games.

“All they want is a bit of success. To watch good football and a good team.

“When the fans are behind the manager it is phenomenal. When I was there we had that with Kevin Keegan. It’s vital.”